Descripción/Description:

PhD grant in star and brown dwarf formation at the University of Lisbon

Closing date: 2018-09-25
Contact: Koraljka Muzic

One research fellowship for a candidate wishing to pursue doctoral studies as part of the project "Young brown dwarfs as testbeds for star and planet formation" is available at the Center of Astrophysics and Gravitation (CENTRA), at the Faculty of Science of the University of Lisbon, Portugal. The successful candidate will work on the project under the general topic of low-mass star and brown dwarf formation, funded by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT). The work will include search for, and characterization of very-low-mass stars, brown dwarfs, including those with masses similar to giant extrasolar planets, and using the state-of-the-art imaging and spectroscopic data (taken with VLT, VISTA and other telescopes) and photometric/astrometric public catalogues (Gaia, PanStarrs). The work will also include simulations of the observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and search for the best strategies to be used in the selection of very-low-mass young objects in clusters.

The work will be developed at CENTRA - Center for Astrophysics and Gravitation, at the Faculty of Science of the University of Lisbon, under the scientific guidance of Dr. Koraljka Muzic. The successful candidate will be involved in international collaborations. The applicant must have a master or equivalent degree in physics or astrophysics. Expertise with astronomical data analysis and astronomical software will be an advantage, but is not required. The candidate is expected to enroll into the doctoral program of the Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon.

The funding is available from October 2018, with a flexible starting date. The maximum length of the fellowship is 36 months. The fellowship amounts to EUR 980, according to table values of the fellowships awarded by the FCT (http://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores).

Applications may be sent via e-mail to Dr. Koraljka Muzic (kmuzic[at]sim.ul.pt) by attaching a CV (including personal data, formation, skills), publication list (if applicable), copies of university degrees and a brief (max. 2 pages) statement of previous research experience and motivation. Two recommendation letters should be sent directly from the referees to Koraljka Muzic.

Contact for application and further inquiries:
Koraljka Muzic (kmuzic[at]sim.ul.pt)